Why is my betta fish lying at the bottom and its fins changing color?

Question

Hi, I have a beta fish named Patron and recently he's been acting different. I noticed a few days ago that he has been laying at the bottom of the tank and only moves when I move him (he flaps his fins around a bit) but doesn't swim. I'm also really concerned because the color of his fins changed from red to an aqua. I've been thinking of possible reasons to why this might be happening and recently we started feeding him flakes instead of pellets or his water might be a bit too cold? Thank you. Pet's info: Fish | Betta | Male

Angel Alvarado, LVT · Accepted Answer

Cold water can affect activity in fish. Bettas are tropical fish and do best between 78 F and 80 F. Check the water chemistry also. You can use a home test kit, such as the API Master Kit, or submit a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for an absence (0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20ppm or less. Perform a partial water change if necessary to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Diet can influence color, so it is possible this is partly to blame for the color change. There are diets that can be fed to enhance colors.

Why is my betta fish lying at the bottom and its fins changing color?

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